Virunum

The municipium Claudium Virunum was a Roman city in the Roman province of Noricum, on the territory of modern customs field near Maria Saal in Kärnten.

History

Virunum was founded in the mid- first century AD under the emperor Claudius, as the capital of the province of Noricum and dissolved the city from on the Magdalen mountain, from which they probably took its name. The city was located on the road connecting the Adriatic Sea to the Danube, extending from the still through a turn southeast Carinthia to Amber Road. It was built on a flood- safe terrace on the edge of the Customs field, parts of the city submitted to the Töltschacher hills to the east of the city.

The city possessed the Latin citizenship and was up in the second half of the 2nd century the seat of the provincial governor ( procurator Augusti provinciae Norici ). After the Marcomanni wars, the provincial administration was moved to Ovilava ( catfish ) in Virunum remained only the tax authorities. With the division of the province of Noricum by the Emperor Diocletian Virunum was again provincial capital, this time from Binnennorikum ( Noricum mediterraneum ). From 343 Virunum is as a bishop's seat. The decline of the city is known inadequate. There she lay in the valley and was unattached, at least pulled a part of the inhabitants of the surrounding mountain ranges (Ulrich Berg, Graz Kogel ). In the 5th century Teurnia is mentioned ( on the Lurnfeld at Holzer mountain in the district of St. Peter in the municipality of wood Lendorf ) as the capital of Noricum.

Owned by the city territory encompassed central and eastern Carinthia and parts of Styria and was approximately 9000 square kilometers. The usual administrative bodies, such as city council, magistrates and double Mayor (II viri iure dicundo ) are known by name in Virunum part.

Description

The town itself consisted of about one square kilometer. First excavations were made ​​in the second half of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, but there are also still insufficient reports. Extensive systematic excavations took place from the late 19th century to 1931. After intensive excavation activities were resumed only end of the century with the excavation of the amphitheater.

The city is crossed by a rectangular road network, the major axis running NNE - SSW. Here are the excavated Forum and Capitol. Two subsequent blocks west of it are also excavated in them, a nearly 30 -square-meter Dionysus mosaic was uncovered. The city streets were not paved. Sewers and lead pipes and public wells are evidence of a good water supply and sanitation.

At places of worship are a Dolichenum next to the Capitol excavated and two mithraea proven by inscriptions. The long time only suspected early Christian church could be detected in the north of the city recently. In summer 2012 excavations were made to the Bishop Center. It is an approximately three-quarters acre complex, a bishop's palace of a double church plant. "With some probability, these are even a third church plant. " In the fall of 2012, the area should be explored with a ground radar.

On the slope of the hill is a Töltschacher Stage Theater, the only known up to now in Noricum theater. Furthermore, a long elliptical amphitheater. Further to the east of it is a large building, which is interpreted as the governor's palace.

In Prunnerkreuz on the northern edge of the urban area several Roman stones are walled up since the 17th century.